Pendent electric fitting



Aug. 4, 1925. 1,5%678 G. W. GOODRIDGE v PENDENT ELECTRIC FITTING Filed May 12y 1924 .Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

- vUNITED STATES GILBERT w. aannames, or AIRFIELD,

ELECTRIC COMPANY, or nnCTICUn Y i CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOE TO THE BRYANT BnIDeEronT, CONNECTICUT, A conroaATIoN er con- PENDENT ELECTIC FITTIIIC. i

v Application tiled May 12, 1924. Serial No. 712,628.

To' all whom' t may concern:

Be. ik knownthatl, GILBERT W. GooD- toengage the'receptacle contacts of thefit-1` y i y stitutes, 1n a. way, abase block, whileithe RIDGE, a `r-citizenof' the United States of Americmresiding at'Fairfield, in the county of Fairfield and State' of Connecticut, have inventedl certaingnew, and useful Improvements in Per'identj*Electric Fittings, of

whiclrthefollowiii fis" a specification.

My invention re' ates to electric fittings, andparticularly 'to' a combination fitting Vvsihipch comprises both an attachment plug receptacle andijaf'switch forcontrolling ai secondary circuit. vSatisfactory fittings of thistypekfor flush installation have long been'. in use," also' more or less makeshift combinations i pendent installations, and my object is to provide a workmanlike and eicient fitting of the pendent type to re- -vp11-ace the makeshifts heretofore commonly resorted to when-'an 'installation of this character is desired.. v f i 1 In the accompanying drawings- Fig. ll'is a perspective View of a ttingin vwhich my invent-ionis embodied .in one ferm, with an attachmentA plug in posltion tinlg;

" ig. 2 is a plan view of the base block of l v the Afitting, with the various conductors y Oftll fltting;x

show-n .in position;` y f Fig. 3 isa similar View f the cover block v 'Figli is a View similar to Fig. 2.,..but showing the switch in open circuit position; Fig. is asimilar view of the base block with most of the conductors removed;`

'- showing the cover 40 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through thepitting' drawn to a larger scale and and base lblocks assembled;

Figs. 7 andSl are perspectives .of detalls vof the switch construction. 1'

The body ofthe present 'fitting comprises a pai-r of complementary insulating blocks 15 and 16 of substantially'the same external dimensions,` meeting along ar substantially medial longitudinal plane and'v united by screw bolts 17 which are here shown assving through andfcounte'rsunkin bloc 16 and'taking. into ytapped sockets 18 molded i l At one. end, Vthe fittingk 1s eration withban attachment plug. vln v1.V Aof the more or less universal use offr und plug caps I1 9` of the blade type,

the cooperating receptacle end 20 ,of the {itting is here indicated as substantially circular and recessed on its end .face to form guideways 21` for the cap blades. It will of course be realized, however, that the receptacle end of the fitting may be shaped to any desired type of cooperating attachment plug. The body of the fitting Ispreferably provided with flats 22 which not only reduce the weight of the ittingbut also facilitate its grasp by the hand and properly locate the fittin in the hand forready manipulation of t e switch-operating mechanism. The particular switch mechanism may also be of any appropriate type, and I have illustrated only one of various convenient constructions, which may be used. The present mechanism, more fully in detail described hereinafter, -is operated by a push bar, the end buttons 23 of which pass through guide channels 24 formed in the l adjacent faces of the blocks 15--16.

y While the blocks 15 and 16 are lco-exteny sive and to all external appearances substantiall identical, the bloclr -15 'carriesall the Acon uctors of the `iitting andtherefore conblocks are recessed at one end 'binding ter v lminal 33, located in line vwith the entrance i channel 25, receives the wire 30.

Extending from the wire-receiving end l of the fitting to the plug receptacle end` thereof, are connecting straps 34 and 35emgaged respectively at the binding terminals, 31 and 32, arched intermediate their ends to clear the switch mechanism,

(the cover block 16 being channelled at 36 and 37 to receive the straps) and terminating in the receptacle chambers 38 and 3 9, where they are' shaped to form, or have secured thereto, 'receptacle contacts 40 and 41 which re'- ceive and engage the inserted blades of the b plug cap 19. Direct and uninterrupted con- 56 in the base bloc nection between the wires 28, 29 and the receptacle contacts 40-41 is thus always established. The third wire terminal 33 has associated therewith an offset switch contact 42 (Fig. 5) engaged snugly in channel 43 in base 15 and lyingA in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of division between the blocks 15--16 In the same plane as the contact 42 is a flange contact 44 oiiset from the strap 34. Both contacts enter the switch chamber 45, but lie respectively in portions of the chamber on opposite sides of the plane of division between the blocks 15-16.

The circuit between the thus spaced contacts is made or broken by the oscillating switch plate "46 which rides the cam 47 of the push bar 48. The latter reciprocates in a plane intermediate the contacts 42-44, and at right angles to their plane. As it is displaced longitudinally, the switch plate 46, detained by its engagement with the contacts against whichit rests, is bodily displaced by the cam 47 and orcedto slide on the contacts until the peak of the cam passes the plane of the switch plate, whereupon the latter is thrownl with a snap action by the compressed coil spring49 away from the contacts and thusl breaks the switch controlled circuit. The throw of thev switch plate is halted at its opposite extreme by the wall 50 of the switch chamber 45 on the one hand, and by a stop lug 51 otlset` from the leg 52 of the frame 53. The opposite leg 54 of the frame is spaced suficiently from the leg 52 to clear the contacts 42-44 and to permit the latter to be engaged by the switchV plate without interference as it swings across the space between the ,legs of the frame. The offsetting of the frame at 55 accommodates the s ring 49 and permits it to lay lfreely in t e recess 15, while the shoulder 57 lying in the plane of the end of the recess 56 coo erates with the latter in affording a seat or one end of the switch spring. At'the ends of the frame legs 52 and `54 are short flanges 58 which take into shallow notches 59 in the base block and are located thereby in the lane of the surface 60 against which the straight edge of the bar 48 bears, and thus take the wear of said bearing. The bar is held against transverse dis lacef ment by its engagement between the rame on one face and the ledges 61 depressed below the face of the base block 15. The impingement of the lugs 6210i the push bar against the stop shoulders 63, in which the ledges terminate, prevents the .longitudinal escape of the push bar.

While the switch frame is here shown as held in position by. a screw bolt 64 taking4 f into a tapped boss 65 in the foot piece 66 of the frame, it vmay be secured by a rivet molded in the base 15, or otherwise. Tapped hollow rivets 67 molded in the base are used to secure the straps 34, 35 and 42 to the base and also to receive the several binding.

the underlying principles of the construction which I claim as my invention.

The utilit and operation of the fitting is obvious. I theleads 28 and 29 baconnected directly to the mains, current is always available a't thereceptacle contacts 40-41 regardless of the position of the Switch. If the lead 30 be branched from the lead 29, or connected to the same main as the` latter, or to the neutral of a 3-wire system, itis obvious-that a device of any sort-for example a lamp socket-if arranged in the circuit 28-30, will be ener gized when the switch is closed. The litting thus `rovide's an outlet receptacle the contacts ofp which are always in circuit, combined with a switch which controls a cirways leading to said contact chambers and a switch chamber intermediate' the cable entrance and the contact chambers, to ether 4with conductors mounted on one o said casing parts and comprising a pair of wire terminals adjacent the cable entrance but on opposite sides thereof, contacts arranged in the contact chambers, connecting straps between the respective wire terminals and contacts, a ythird wire terminal also mounted adjacent the cable entrance, a switch contact electricall connected to said third wire terminal an projecting into the switch chamber, a commutator arranged in the switch chamber, and means associated therewith for moving thesaid commutator into and out of engagement with said switch contact and4 one of the connecting straps.

2. `A.pendent fitting comprising a body having a longitudinally divided casing of insulating material, the parts of said casing being recessed in'regis'ter on their opposed faces to form a cable entrance at one end, l

contact chambers at the opposite end, guideways leading to said contact chambers and a switch chamber intermediate the cable entrance and the contact chambers, together with conductors mounted on one of said casing parts andcomprising a pair of wire terminals adjacent the cable entrance but on opposite sides thereof, contacts arranged in the contact chambers, connecting strapsi having a longitudinally divided casing of insulating material, the parts of said casing being recessed in re 'ster on their opposed faces to form a ca le entrance at one end, contact'chambers at the opposite end, guideways leading to said contact chambers and a switch chamber intermediate the cable entrance and the contact chambers, together with conductors mounted on one of said casing parts and comprising a pair of wire terminals adjacent the cable `entrance but on opposite-sides thereof, contacts arranged in the contact chambers, connecting straps between the respective wire terminals and contacts, a third wire terminal also mounted adjacent the cable entrance, a switch contact electrically connected to said third wire terminal and projecting into the switch chamber, a commutator arranged in the switch chamber, and

reciprocating means associated. therewith for moving the said commutator into and out 'of engagement with said switch contact and one ofthe connecting'straps.

4. A pendentV fitting comprising an insulating body, a pair of receptacle contacts arranged at one end ofthe body, a pair of wire terminals arranged at the opposite end ofthe body, straps extendin on "opposite sides of the midy lane of the ody between the wire termina s and receptacle contacts to establish direct electrical connection therebetween, one of said straps having a switch contact lug o'set therefrom intermediate its ends, a third wire terminal having a switch contact lug arranged in definite relation'to thel lug on the connecting strap, and a switch memberA for making and breaking connection between said switch contacts.

5. An electric switch comprising an sulating base, a framel securedto said base and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the face of the base, a reciprocating actuator confined between said frame and baseand substantiall parallel thereto and comprisinga peake cam, a pair ofswitch `contacts extendingin a plane at right angles to the actuator anden opposite sides of the latter, and a commutator engaging rvthe peaked cam otv the actuator, together with a spring causing said commutator to move with snap action into and out of engagement with the switch contacts on reciprocation of the actuator.

6. In an electric switch device, an insulating base, a pair of wire terminals mounted thereon, one of said wire terminals having an associated strap terminating at one end in a receptacle contact and having intermediate its ends an oifset switch contact, the other of said terminals having only an associated switch contact, together with va commutator mounted on the base and adapted tom'ake and break connection between the switch contacts.

7. In pendent fitting, a longitudinally split'cas ng and' conductors arranged between the opposed faces ofthe casing parts, said casing parts being recessed to afford 'a cable entrance, channels for the conductors and a switch chamber, wire terminals mounted respectively on opposite sides of and in line with the cable entrance, a switch contact connected with the Wire terminal mounted in line with the cable entrance, receptacle contacts mounted at the opposite end of the receptacle from the wire terminals, straps connect-ingthe side wire terminals and receptacle contacts, a switch contact extending from one of said straps intermediate its ends into predetermined location with respect to the switch .contact first mentioned and spaced therefrom, said switch contacts being arranged on opposite sides of the line of division between the parts of the insulating casing, together with a commutator adapted to make and break connection be-a tween said switch contacts.

8. In an electric itting, a divided insulat- 'ing casing, thev parts of which are recessed on their opposed faces to form a switch chamber, switch contacts arranged in the said switch chamber on opposite sidesof the line of division between the portions of the casing, a'commutator arranged in the switch chamber and adapted to make and break connection between the switch contacts, and a reciprocating actuator engaging said commutator vand having rectilinear movement'through the switch casing subl stantially in theplane of division between, the casing parts, togetherwith .a switch chamber, switch contacts 4arranged in the said Aswitch chamber on opposite sides of the line of division between the por'tio'ns of the casing, a commutator arramgedy` in the switch chamber and adapted to make mutator in one direction.

10. In an electric fitting, a divided insulating casing, the parts ofwhich are recessed on ltheir opposed faces to form a switch chamber, switch contacts arranged in the said switch chamber on op osite sides of the line of division between t eportions of the casing, a commutator arranged in the switch chamber and adapted to make and break connection between the switch contacts, and a reciprocating actuator engaging xsaid contacts and having 'rectilinear move.-

ment through the switch casingsubstantially in the plane of divisionsbetween thecasin parts, together withv a switch frame secure to one of said casing parts and extending in a direction generally7 yparallel to the inner face thereof and serving to engage the actuator between said face of the casing and the frame, a spr-ing for throwing said commutator with snapV action, and an abutment on. the frame for one end of said spring. 11. In an electric switch, a switch fra-me having an anchor lug at one end and a pair of spaced legs atits opposite end oiiset to form bearing lugs, an insulating base against which said'anchorlug and bearin lugs rest,

together with a reciprocating pus barvhavingv slidingengagement with said bearing lu s, and a commutator extendin in a plane su stantially atjright anglesto't eactuator but moving substantially in the plane of the .latter between thelegs of the frame. .Y 12. In an electric switch, aswitchframe having an -anchorlug at one endend a parir of'spaced legs'at its opposite end ,oifsettojfp' form bearinglugs,an insulating base against which said anchor lug `and bearing lugs rest,

together with a reciprocating push bar hav-y ing sliding `engagement with saidA bearing I lugs, and acommutator extendin ina plane substantially aty right angles to t e actuator but moving substantially in the plane of the.'y latter between the legs of the frame, to-v gether with a switch s ring engaging the commutator and exten ing into t space between the legs of their-ame.

13. In an elect-ric switch, a switch frame havingy an anchor lug at one end and a pairof spaced vlegs at its opposite endjoiset to form bearing lugs, an insulating base againstl which said anchor lug and bearing lugs rest, together with a reciprocating push bar hav- .,push late. l

, the base, a push plate conned between the frame and'base but freely slidable in a plane substantially parallel to the frame, and

means for limiting the longitudinal displacey ment of the push plate.

15. In an electric switch, a base, a. push .Y

plate having a slidin engagement with thc base, a frame secure to the base and having spaced membersbearing against the side of the push plate to confine it on the base with freedom of longitudinal displacement, a switch bar operatively engaged by the push plate and oscillating between the spaced side members of the frame.

16. In an electric switch, a base, a push plate having a slidin engagement with the base, a frame -secure ing spaced members bearing against the-side to thebase and hav` of the push plate to confine 1t on the base with freedom of longitudinal displacement,y

a switch bar o eratively engaged 'bythe push plate an oscillating between the spaced side members of the frame, together with a lug offsetfrom one of the side members of` the frame to limit the throw of the switch bar in. one direction, and a contact overlying the other side memberv ofthe frame to limit the throw of theswitch bar in the opposite direction. Y

17. In an electric switch, a base recessed to form a switch chamber, contacts spaced Aapart in said chamber, a 'push plate travers;- ing the'chamber in a plane intermediate the contacts, a skeleton frame secured .to 1the base. at one side of said, chamber andserving to confine the push platebetw'een said p frame'and base with freedom oflongitudinal .i

115 plate and working betweenthefsides o the Y movement, a switch bar actuated by the ush switch frame to make or breakthe circuit between fthe Vcontactsr onk actuation of the `18. i nan electric switch, aswitchf frame comprising a ,sheet metal plate offset atone' y endto form anedge bearingfor asheet metal push bar, an oiset attire-op iteA ing "m end ofthe switch frame, said frame vrecessed between its side ymargins-to` permit play across'. the opening the switch bar vto afforded bv saidrecess.l y -4 y p l 19., In` an electric switch, va switchfmeclianism comprising. a sheet metal-frame onset Y' at .one end, Ka `sheet metal pushvvplate reatiy linearly displaceable in a plane substantially parallel to and adjacent the switch frame, said push plate having an edge bearing against the offset at one end of the frame, an offset at the opposite end of the frame, a spring seated against said offset, a 'push bar agalnst which the opposite end of lthe spring thrusts, said switch bar being in operative engagement with the push bur and the frame being recessed between its 10 side margins to permit play of the switch bar across the opening so formed on the actuation of the push bar.

In testimony whereof I have` signed my name to this specication.

GILBERT W. GOODRIDGE. 

